A double celebration for Mosaic

Alan Solomon on two special events for the former Wembley Liberal Synagogue

READERS of lj today with good memories may recall an article in the September/ October 2022 issue in which we outlined the 75 year history of Mosaic Liberal Synagogue (formerly Wembley Liberal Synagogue and then Harrow & Wembley Progressive Synagogue).

This anniversary was to be marked with a celebration tea in October 2022 in our new building in Stanmore, with its state-of-the-art facilities, which is now the home of the Liberal, Reform and Masorti synagogues that make up Mosaic Jewish Community, a unique partnership in Anglo-Jewry.

But, as so often in the construction industry, the target completion date proved somewhat optimistic and the celebration had to be postponed.

And so it was that, in April, we finally welcomed around 150 current and past members, guests and representatives of Liberal Judaism, along with our friends from the Reform and Masorti congregations, to an entertaining afternoon and wonderful tea.

Three of us, each covering 25 years, gave a potted history of the synagogue including personal recollections and how membership of the community had played such a large part in our lives.

Around the hall were displays of old photographs, shul magazines, service booklets produced for special occasions over the years and other memorabilia.

There were also photos of a number of current movers and shakers dating from their childhood, for guests to try and identify, and a loop showing clips from a DVD taken when we left our original home in Preston Road, Kenton, in 2011, having occupied three different buildings in our 57 years there.

The 1950s and early 60s saw a very popular Youth Club at the former Wembley Liberal Synagogue in Preston Road. So successful was the club that many life-long friendships formed, plus there were a number of marriages between members.

There have many get togethers over the years and the latest was held in Devon, when 31 former members and partners enjoyed dinner together at a local farm, a boat trip on the River Exe, a country walk and lots of chat about those club days from over 60 years ago.

Moving speeches were given by Mosaic Liberal Synagogue’s Rabbi Rachel Benjamin and Rabbi Anna Wolfson, Development Rabbi for Mosaic Jewish Community, who spoke of their hopes for the future. They talked about how all three communities continue with plans to make this wonderful new building a centre of Jewish life in our area of North West London. The afternoon then concluded with a song session led by these two very musical rabbis.